Question

what is the difference between runoff and seepage?

Answer 1

Water Cylce or Hydrologic Cycle

Definition of runoff:

Runoff is water that is draining away from the surface of a land. It can be caused by heavy downpour or snow. When it fall to the ground the force of gravity will cause it to run downhhill as runoff. Since the water does not evaporate or get absorbed into the soil it therefore flows off from the land in the form of streams.  This is part of the water cycle process.

Definition of seepage:

When there is rainfall or snow on the ground a portion of the water can get absorbed into soil.  This  process where rain water or snow infiltrates into rocks and soil in the subsurface is know as seepage. Some of the water can go as deep as replenishing grounwater aquifers. Therefore in simple terms seepage is the absorption of water into the ground.


Therefore the difference between runoff and seepage is; runoff is the flow of water on the surface of an area of land due to and heavy downpour or snow fall while seepage is the absorption of water into the ground. All this is part of the water cycle.

Answer 2

Runoff is precipitation that did not get (invaded) consumed into the dirt or did not vanish, and in this way, advanced from the beginning into spots that water gather. Runoff causes disintegration, and furthermore convey chemicals and substances on the ground surface along to the waterways where the water winds up. It can bring about water pollution as well.

Seepage happens amid the rainstorm water drenched into the ground in the slope over the driveway for example. As occurs with water underground, it began moving along underground layers of soil and shake that are sufficiently permeable to enable water to travel through it. After a storm, water doesn't move straight into the ground, at the same time, rather, it moves both descending and on a level plane along penetrable layers. The water moves downhill ("down-angle") toward a stream at the base of the slope.